The 2008 class project will be making a free-standing shoji screen. The photo below shows the class prototype made by Carl Swensson.

with Carl Swensson

As a woodworker you have probably seen Japanese hand tools, and also wondered what is so special about them. Perhaps you have purchased Japanese tools and experienced mixed results. Almost everyone loves the saws, but Japanese hand planes can be quite mysterious. The chisels and sharpening stones seem more straightforward, but there is much more to learn that makes these tools particularly effective and a pleasure to use.
This course solves the mystery. Japanese tools don’t look like western tools because they are meant to be used somewhat differently. Once introduced to these techniques, you will find that the design of Japanese tools is not only logical but also very efficient. For instance, Japanese saws and hand planes are meant to be pulled toward the body rather than pushed away from yourself. This means that you become more centered and controlled during each pass, rather than shifting yourself off-balance. With the saws, a pull allows use of a much thinner blade, which not only makes a narrower kerf, but also requires much less effort to use.
In response to requests from Carl’s past students who wish to return we are introducing a new project for this summer’s Japanese Woodworking class. Class participants will make a free-standing shoji screen, with double hinges between the sections, and a rice paper covering. Students will design their own projects, within parameters of size, complexity and individual work skills. Although the shoji is a specialized piece of furnishing, many aspects of the construction are fully applicable to making other types of furniture. The class is suitable for beginning and more advanced woodworkers.
Our Japanese woodworking class has been expanded to 6 days, running Monday through Saturday. We have added a day so that there is adequate time for Carl to do several in-depth demonstrations that will be spread throughout the course. These demos will include sharpening (chisels and planes), stock preparation, and joinery (layout, cutting joints and assembly.)
The tuition is $825 for this 6 day class. This includes materials, meals and lodging. Because tool preparation and sharpening is a major component of the process, students bring their own basic set of tools to this course. This includes: 3 chisels, a hand plane, a set of Japanese water stones, and some measuring/layout tools. We will help with suggestions on how to keep costs reasonable, and to prevent mistaken purchases.

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E-mail:
Drew Langsner
Phone:
828-656-2280 (M-F, 9-6 Eastern time)